“But those cutthroats will kill a child to stop it from crying, and that young one will yell with all his might; I can answer for that, if he wakes up and sees strange people about him.”
“Well, the devil take him! I suppose we shall have to carry him with us. Nothing would be easier, if we don’t meet badly disposed people; but, if there is any fighting to be done, he will be very much in our way, and may be injured himself.”
“You are right, Christian; it would be more sensible to leave him in his bed. If there are spies around, they will soon know that we have gone out, and they will have no reason for coming in here. Keep your eye on the door. This time I shall not be very long in putting Master Nils to bed; he can sleep in his clothes.”
[XVII.]
M. GOEFLE had scarcely had time to lay his valet-de-chambre on his bed, when he called Christian.
“Listen!” he said to him; “it is through this room that they are coming. They are knocking at the door.”
“Who goes there?” said Christian, loading his gun and taking his stand before the door of the guard-room, which opened, the reader will remember, on the gallery that surrounded the court.
“Open, open—it is we!” replied a rough voice, in Dalecarlian.
“Who?” said M. Goefle.
There was no reply, and Christian added: